The controversial photoshoot of Kathy holding a blooded head that looks like that of the U.S. president Donald Trump

In case you’ve been exploring the underside of the Sahara, comedian, personality and professional trash talker Kathy posed for a photoshoot this week holding a decapitated, blood-soaked head which closely resembled Donald Trump.

It was graphic and disturbing to the extreme, no matter what context it was placed in — performance art, satire or madcap mayhem freedom of expression.

Presumably, given that Kathy has built a career on courting controversy, she assumed this would elevate her profile, drawing fierce but ultimately manageable condemnation from Trump supporters and heroic cult status from his army of detractors.

United States president Donald Trump who is a polarising figure in the States to say the least

“He’s kind of like the Amanda Bynes of candidates. Remember when poor Amanda Bynes was sending all those tweets to people saying ‘you’re ugly, you’re ugly’? He’s no different. So do I want him to be president? No, but as a comedian I would love it.”

As it happens, she’s got her wish.

“Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself,” President Trump tweeted. “My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!”

I wonder will she feel it’s worth it.

Donald comedy covfefe

A RARE moment of levity this week came in the form of Donald Trump’s twitter account.

The tiniest hands in all of politics tweeted: “Despite the negative press covfefe”

Jessica Chastain was one of the jury members on the panel of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival

As a jury member of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, she spoke frankly at a press conference about the “quite disturbing” way women were portrayed in the movies she viewed at the world’s most prestigious film showcase. She said: “I watched 20 films in ten days — and I love movies.

“The one thing that I really took away from this experience is how the world views women.

“From the female characters that I saw represented, it was quite disturbing, to be honest.”

While acknowledging that there were “some exceptions” to the trend, she held firm in her general assertation, adding: “I was surprised with the representation of female characters on screen in these films.” Her proposed solution was simple: promoting more “female storytellers” — ones that might reflect the women she sees in her daily life.

Women who “are proactive, have their own agencies and don’t just react to the men around them — they have their own point of view.”

Hollywood has often been quick to react to charges of shortcomings around ethnic diversity, hopefully this kind of reaction will bleed into other areas too.

Insurers showing no love to music

JUST what are the insurance companies playing at these days?

Singer and former You’re A Star singer George Murphy made the news this week after Liberty insurance failed to insure him, citing his career as the obstacle.

Shawn Mendes performed at the 3arena in Dublin at a gig that had increased security due to the recent bomb attack at a gig in Manchester

These included full-body pat-downs, metal detectors in some cases and strict size restrictions on handbags and rucksacks allowed in.

They warned that entry to the venue would be certain to take longer than normal. I read this announcement out on 2fm as it was released, giving people a heads-up.

In the aftermath, I had numerous tweets and texts to the station saying that far from finding it an inconvenience and annoyance, punters — and particularly parents — were grateful for the extra efforts to ensure safety and peace of mind for all attending.

With the reverberations of Manchester still heavy in the air it was nice to see the efforts were appreciated.